Abstract:Although insect pests pose tremendous constraints to food security and health in Africa, the human resource base necessary for the development and utilization of insect pest and vector management technology is limited. More specifically, African countries lack the necessary cadre of scientists at postgraduate level as well as institutional capacities to undertake purpose-oriented research for development. Even at the consumer level, there is a need to educate insect pest and vector management IPVM practitioners and farmers to ensure the diffusion, internalization and usage of technology. The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) established the Bursar scheme for enticing science undergraduates in insect science, and a postdoctoral programme for professional development of young scientists. In addition to the limitation of human and material resources that is universally encountered throughout Africa, the continent suffers from other common regional problems, including economic stagnation, environmental degradation and technological backwardness. This commonality of problems calls for a united approach to human resources development to facilitate optimization of resource utilization and the harnessing of indigenous talent. This paper describes ICIPE's initiatives, achievements and prospects in science leadership development through the African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS) programme.